Brian Ward

Sun Devil Football head coach Kenny Dillingham didn't need to leave the conference to greatly supplement his inaugural staff, welcoming Washington State defensive coordinator Brian Ward to assume the same role at Arizona State.   Ward - a Glendale, Ariz. native - led one of the elite defenses in the Pac-12 in 2022, as the Cougars were third in the league and 33rd in the FBS in allowing just 22.4 points per game - tied for the sixth-best total in program history and lowest since a 19.7 mark in 2003.  That tally seems improbable for a program that hadn't finished in the Top 40 in the category for nearly two decades and 90th or worse in six seasons since 2009.    "I had to go up against Coach Ward and that defense in 2022 and I know firsthand how much of a challenge that was," Dillingham said. "Coach Ward has had success at every stop and what he did at Washington State is no surprise for those that have followed his career. His aggressive and opportunistic defenses have been a staple of his career and exactly what we need in Tempe."     A deep dive with ASU's DC is dropping TONIGHT on @SotDPodcast SUBSCRIBE Apple: https://t.co/XAoTEThZnh Spotify: https://t.co/2OnJ6d3afq Pocket Casts: https://t.co/SuupKnONaJ Amazon: https://t.co/H2kS1qRhFV YouTube: https://t.co/DZGJLpaosz pic.twitter.com/TsoOFgFhzG — Brad Denny (@BDenny29) June 19, 2024     Washington State's three defensive touchdowns were 10th in the FBS and the .775 red zone conversion defense was 23rd in the country. The team was also 35th in the nation in allowing just 127.4 rushing yards per game. The defense finished in the top-three in the league in third down conversion percentage allowed (.371), first downs allowed (239), tackles for loss per game (6.2), and turnovers gained (21).    One thing that stood out about Ward's time in Pullman was the lack of penalties, with WSU finishing 30th in the FBS in fewest penalty yards per game (44.75) and 33rd in fewest penalties per game (5.25).    Linebacker Daiyan Henley earned First Team All-Pac-12 honors in 2022 and was Washington State's first Butkus Award Finalist, becoming the first Cougar linebacker to earn first-team honors since 2003. Linemen Ron Stone Jr. and Brennan Jackson earned second-team accolades.   Prior to his season in Pullman, Ward spent two years as defensive coordinator at the University of Nevada. In 2021, Nevada posted an 8-4 record and earned an invitation to the Quick Lane Bowl against Western Michigan.   Ward guided an opportunistic defense during his time in Reno, showing marked improvements in total defense, scoring defense, and most notably, turnovers gained from the year prior to his arrival (2019) to this season. The Nevada defense allowed 24.4 points per game during the 2021 season, 7.5 better than in 2019. The Wolf Pack defense also improved from 48th in turnovers gained in 2019 (19) to eighth in 2021 with 25.   A veteran defensive coach who has worked at all levels of college football, Ward worked specifically with the defensive line in 2021 after overseeing the linebacker corps in 2020.   Five members of the Wolf Pack defense earned All-Mountain West recognition in 2020, linebacker Lawson Hall being named to the Second Team. Also named to the Second Team were defensive linemen Sam Hammond and Dom Peterson, while defensive backs Berdale Robins and Tyson Williams were each voted All-Mountain West Honorable Mention.   Hall paced the Wolf Pack defense in tackles (65) and tackles-for-loss (8.5), while also racking up 3.0 sacks. As a unit, the Nevada defense ranked 36th in the FBS in rushing defense (138.1 yards per game), and averaged 2.56 sacks per game. The Pack's defensive showing was highlighted by a standout effort at the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl, in which it recorded eight sacks and intercepted three passes in the 38-27 victory over Tulane.   Ward arrived at Nevada following a four-year stint at Syracuse with the Orange, where he coached two-time All-ACC selection and current Indianapolis Colts linebacker Zaire Franklin. He was hired as defensive coordinator in 2016 and added the role of linebackers coach in 2017. The rise of the Syracuse defense played a large role in the Orange's win over No. 2 Clemson in 2017 and its 10-3 season in 2018 where the Orange finished the year ranked 14th in the nation and defeated No. 15 West Virginia in the 2018 Camping World Bowl.   Ward's defenses at Syracuse were nationally relevant, including back-to-back seasons (2017 and 2018) in which the Orange led the nation in turnovers forced in 2018, forced more turnovers in 2017 and 2018 than any other FBS team in the nation, and finished in the top 15 in third-down defense. Syracuse was also top-six nationally in 2018 in turnovers gained, interceptions, fumbles recovered and sacks, while also setting the school record for sacks. He helped develop a quintet of players into All-Atlantic Coast Conference selections during his time with the Orange.   Before joining the Orange, Ward served as the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach for Bowling Green in 2015. He oversaw a defense that improved in several statistical categories from the previous year and featured two All-MAC selections at linebacker, including first-team honoree Austin Valdez. Ward also served as Bowling Green's head coach for the 2015 GoDaddy Bowl versus Georgia Southern.   He was a nominee for the Broyles Award – given to the nation's top assistant coach – in 2017 at Syracuse and he was one of three FBS finalists for Linebackers Coach of the Year from FootballScoop.com in 2015 while at Bowling Green.   Ward's defensive improvements were a major factor in Bowling Green winning the 2015 Mid-American Conference (MAC) title. The Falcons surrendered 4.6 fewer points and nearly 76 yards less of total offense per game than they did in 2014. In addition, Bowling Green moved up the NCAA statistical rankings in passing defense (up 44 spots), rushing defense (up 20 spots), scoring defense (from 106 to 84) and total defense (from 115 to 86). Bowling Green finished 13th nationally in turnovers gained (27) and eighth in interceptions (20). Valdez was the leader of the unit, racking up 144 tackles and ranking 10th in the FBS in tackles per game (10.3).      From 2012-14, Ward was the defensive coordinator at Western Illinois where he molded the Leathernecks into one of the top defenses in FCS football. Ward's 2013 unit ranked seventh in the nation in total defense (305.3 ypg) and third nationally in passing defense (149.0 ypg). The next year, the Leathernecks put on one of the most impressive defensive displays of the season against Wisconsin running back Melvin Gordon. Western Illinois held the Heisman Trophy finalist to 38 yards on 17 carries (2.2 yards per carry).   Before joining Western Illinois, Ward was the defensive coordinator at Drake in 2011 where he helped the Bulldogs to a 9-2 record and the Pioneer Football League championship.   Ward's other previous coaching stops include: McPherson College (1997, 2007-09), Glendale Community College (1999-2000), Wabash College (2001-04), Missouri Southern State (2005) and North Dakota State (2010). He spent the 2006 season as the defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Tulsa Union High School in Oklahoma.   A 1997 graduate of McPherson College, Ward served as the head coach of his alma mater for three seasons from 2007-09, compiling a 17-14 (.548) record. In his final season, he led the Bulldogs to a 9-2 mark, the program's first berth in the NAIA national playoffs, and was named CollegeFanz.com Sports Network NAIA Coach of the Year. During his head-coaching tenure, the Bulldogs boasted seven All-Americans, two Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Players of the Year, seven NAIA Scholar-Athletes and 39 All-KCAC selections.   Ward holds a bachelor's degree in history from McPherson and a master's degree in organizational management from the University of Phoenix. He is married to the former Amy Brandseth. The couple has three children – Travis, Ellie and Erin.